A 34-year-old woman, Nonhlelelwa Matsebula, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the kidnapping and murder of four-year-old Keeya Mbulawa in Protea, South Africa.
The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Johannesburg, issued the sentence on Wednesday, March 5, 2024. Matsebula must serve at least 20 years of her sentence before she can be considered for parole.
According to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Matsebula pleaded guilty to the murder of Mbulawa.
Investigations led by Captain Isaac Khubeka revealed that on January 13, 2024, Matsebula had mingled with children playing in the yard, then kidnapped Mbulawa with the intent to extort money from her parents.
Matsebula reportedly gave the child juice mixed with tablets to induce sleep, then tied a cable around her neck and stuffed a sock in her mouth. The accused subsequently placed the child in a suitcase and attempted to flee but was confronted by the girl’s mother.
After abandoning the suitcase, Matsebula evaded capture for a time but was arrested on January 29, 2024, following the circulation of her photo on social media. Unfortunately, Mbulawa died on January 17, 2024, as a result of suffocation caused by the cable tie.
Matsebula has admitted to her crime and acknowledged the wrongful nature of her actions.
Advocate Colleen Ryan emphasized that Matsebula had intended to extort money from the parents, adding that it was particularly cruel of her to give them false hope by letting them believe their child was still alive when she had already died.
The NPA expressed its approval of the sentence, stating that it reflects the severity of this senseless and tragic crime, ensuring justice for the victim and her family while sending a strong message that such acts of violence will not be tolerated in society.
